Three Floyds Zombie Dust: 25

Taste: 9  Finish: 8  Visual: 4  Aroma: 4
Total: 25

Good amber color with good head and lacing. Aroma is filled with pine and grapefruit. For a pale ale, it's got plenty of flavor and bitterness without going over into IPA territory. Probably as strong as you want to get for the category. Great flavor filled with undertones of grapefruit/citrus, pine, earthy elements. Although it's strong, the finish tales off relatively quickly allowing another gulp. Extremely good stuff.

Stone Levitation Ale: 24

Taste: 7  Finish: 9  Visual: 4  Aroma: 4
Total: 24
 Stone's "light" beer (~4.5%) comes in a deep mahogany color with a decent head and traces of lacing. The aroma is filled with hops. grapefruit, pine, and woody elements. The taste is very well balanced. Good caramel roasting flavors. A hint of bitter grapefruit. Pine. Wood. Clove. The bitterness is just where you want it for a pale ale. It lingers on tongue for a bit but is ultimately very clean making it easy to go back for more. Very good.

Three Floyd's Alpha King: 23

Taste: 7  Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4
Total: 23

Thick and creamy head. Lots of lacing. Slightly cloudy deep amber color. Aroma of citrus, hops, and pine. It is a very smooth draw. Some creaminess down the middle. The back and finish definitely have some grapefruit and pine. Very well balanced in flavors. But overall everything is a bit muted. That does make it insanely drinkable. It could use maybe a bit more bitterness to cut through. But otherwise very good.

Russian River Pliny the Elder: 28

Taste: 9  Finish: 10  Visual: 4  Aroma: 5
Total: 28
Rated as one of the best beers in the world, it is a pleasure to try.

It has a huge creamy head with a lot of lacing. The hops jump out in the aroma as well as grapefruit, honey, and pine. I was expecting a bigger punch from the hops. Instead it's quite balanced. Good hop bitterness throughout but not overpowering at all. Nice tones of grapefruit, a honey warmness from the alcohol (8%). For an IPA it's creamy as well. Honestly, for such a big IPA, it's extremely drinkable. It finishes very cleanly with just a bit of bitterness on the tongue. And an earthy exhale of pine and clove.

Sam Adams New World: 23

Taste: 7  Finish: 8  Visual: 4  Aroma: 4
Total: 23
Big head. Lots of carbonation. Nice amber color. Spiced aroma with hops. Nutmeg. It has a round mouthfeel. The alcohol (10%) kicks in and warms a bit. Not overpowering but it's very present. Some good citrus and red fruit. A bit of dry walnut. Clove. Straw. Earthy flavors. Very well balanced and complex. A good brew.

Ommegang BPA: 25

Taste: 8  Finish: 8  Visual: 5  Aroma: 4

Total: 25

A huge creamy head. A cloudy golden color. It has a faint hint of grapefruit. Good earthy and hoppy aromas as well. The brew is very bright at first. The bitter hops come in a bit along with the grapefruit. It has a good earthy/straw flavor. The yeast lays on the tongue. It finishes dry with a bit of bitterness. Very good.

Terrapin Peaotch: 19

Taste: 7  Finish: 5  Visual: 3  Aroma: 4
Total: 19
The aroma is very clean with a good peach scent. The color is an orange/amber. It's got a good bit of crisp carbonation on the tongue. There is a little bitterness down the middle but the peach comes in nicely. The peach isn't overpowering but certainly is front and center. The finish is a little astringent. Kind of like a tart peach. It's a little off putting. But if you're looking for a peach beer, this is it.

Dogfish Head Hellhound: 14

Taste: 4  Finish: 4  Visual: 3  Aroma: 3
Total: 14

The aroma is clean with a hint of lemon. The color is a cloudy amber bordering on orange. The head is thin. The flavor is really unique. I'm not sure in a good way. The beer is brewed with lemons. It has a very strong lemon rind flavor to it along with some tartness of the lemon. The bitter hops also kick in at the end but it's overshadowed by the rind. Well, they sought out to make a lemon beer and they succeeded. I'm just not happy with the results.

Burnt Hickory Brewing The Fighting Bishop: 22

Taste: 8  Finish: 7  Visual: 3 Aroma: 4
Total: 22
It pours cleanly with a dark golden color and cloudy from yeast. The aroma is fresh with an undertone of lemon and straw. It has a big lemon and orange flavor. The carbonation helps punch it up a bit too. The alcohol creeps in towards the back (7.5%) but then the yeast and citrus mellow it out. The finish is sharp from the citrus but ultimately clean leaving just a bit on the tongue for a little while.

Abita Restoration Pale Ale: 22

Taste: 7  Finish: 7  Visual: 4  Aroma: 4
Total: 22

Abita donates proceeds from this brew to aid in restoration projects in Louisiana after the hurricanes from the past few years.

Aroma is crisp with some citrus and hops. Color is a pale amber. Full head and a bit of lacing. Taste is a bit sweet up front followed by some citrus in the middle. The hops poke up a bit in the back just enough for flavor and then quickly fade in the exhale. Very well balanced for a pale ale.  Just enough refreshment and just enough flavor to make you come back for more. Think Sierra Nevada and you're pretty close. Well worth it.

Stone Imperial Black IPA: 27

Taste: 9  Finish: 9  Visual: 4 Aroma: 5
Total: 27

The color is completely black. No light goes through. The head dissipates quickly and is a little thin. The aroma has chocolate, malt, and citrus. The flavor is filled with roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate. There's a bit of sweetness upfront. But then the IPA side kicks in with a moderate amount of hops and bitter citrus flavors. A hint of dark ripe fruits hits the back of the tongue. The overall mixture of flavors lingers for a bit but not too long. The flavors hit big but without being overpowering, and then mellow quickly. Very well balanced. I'd say Stone has done it again.

Ithaca White Gold: 26

Taste: 10  Finish: 10 Visual: 2  Aroma: 4
Total: 26

What "ruins" this perfect beer is it's duality of visuals. The first glass out of the bottle is perfect. A radiant golden hue with great chunks of yeast floating in it. A full fizzy head. And the a nice clean aroma. But the 2nd pour. Woah. Maybe I got a bad batch somehow. But the sediment in the bottom half of the bottle was horrendous. It came out muddy brown like sewage. Fortunately, it tasted the same in both. And oh the taste. A fantastic Belgian-style wheat beer. Very clean. A light mouth feel at first filled with round yeast flavors. Then the lemon citrus kicks in. And it kicks pretty hard. Lots of lemon cut through but right before your mouth puckers, it drops off. It finishes clean with a light citrus aftertaste. Fantastic.

I'll try another bottle to see if somehow I got a bad one. If the next bottle doesn't go brown, then this will rocket up to 29.

Stone, Troegs, Fields/Sheppard Cherry Chocolate Stout: 20

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aromas: 3
Total: 20
The aroma is faint but of thick chocalate and malt. I wish it was more powerful. athe color is deep black with a good brown head. First sip is huge chocolate. Almost burnt. The sweetness of the malt is on the edge but really the bitterness is very present. There is no sweetness of the cherries. Its more of that dry bitterness of a cherry. I really can't taste the vanilla at all. The flavor lingers a while. I really wish it was sweeter. Good as a strong stout. Disappointing as a cherry stout.

Ommegang Aphrodite: 18

Taste: 6  Finish: 4  Visual: 5 Aroma: 3
Total:18
A very fizzy red head greets you. The color is a ruddy brown. The aroma is faint but of citrus. Wow, it's tart. The carbonation hits the tongue first. It's very champagne-like. Then some sweetness of the fruit. Then it's very tart. Like raspberry lemonade mixed with a pale ale. It's kind of like a dessert brew. It's a little too much for me.

Sam Adams Latitude 48 IPA: 25

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4

Total: 25

Great deep copper color. Full creamy head with good lacing. Sam Adams really did a great job with this one. Big hops without overpowering. Great earthy flavors in the middle. A good bitter finish that stays just long enough on the tongue. It's an excellent strong IPA without being a double.

Avery White Rascal: 20

Taste: 4 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4
Total: 20

It has the perfect color for a white beer; a cloudy straw. Good full head without being fizzy. Good lacing throughout. The aroma has good earthy notes and a hint of citrus. The flavor lets it down a bit. It has the standard wheat beer texture. A bit of lemon in the back. Waaaay back is the coriander. But overall it's missing a bit of umph. This is supposed to be a spiced beer. Instead it's too light. The finish is clean with a bit of yeasty residue. It's a nice beer. But I was expecting more.

Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale: 24

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3

Total: 24

Great head that lingers. Lots of lacing. Cloudy and amber color. Aroma is of hops and slight grapefruit. Lots of hops throughout without being overpowering. It will cut through any thirst but it's a bit too strong to beat the heat. Lots of pine and earthy flavors. A bit of grapefruit in the back. A hint of floral hops on the aftertaste. And the bitterness lingers, as it should. It's a big pale without going to IPA. But I've tasted IPAs with less punch.

Troegs Dream Weaver: 20

Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Visual: 3 Aroma: 4
Total:

Good head that fades quickly. Pale straw yellow and cloudy color. The aroma has a good amount of yeast and straw. It has a light body with a good amount of carbonation. The yeast is consistent throughout including the exhale. Slight lemon undertones as well. Can really cut through a thirst and cool you off. Perfect for hot weather. Might be better with a lemon wedge to accent the citrus.

Victory Headwaters: 29

Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4
Total: 29

The aroma is light, but you can smell hops, citrus, banana, and earthy tones. The head is thick and it has a bit of lacing. The color is a medium copper. This is either a strong pale or a weak IPA. Either way it's great. The hops are throughout from the tip to the exhale but they never overpower. Under it are banana, the dryness of walnut, earthy spices. It also has a floral quality to it which I love.

For a pale ale or even a regular IPA, I love love love this brew. Perfect.

The Bruery Saison de Lente: 23

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4
Total: 23

A huge creamy head. It literally looks like whipped cream floating. The color is a medium golden/amber. Very cloudy. The aroma has vanilla, some citrus, banana, and bread. The flavor is very light, but it basically tastes like it smells. The huge head takes out much of the carbonation which makes it smooth and doesn't have a bit of bite that I want. I'll pour more slowly next time. The finish is also light but a bit of bitter hops lingers, as well as the yeast and citrus. And a hint of alcohol (6.5%). A very good brew for the warming weather. Drink the first one quickly to cool off. Drink the rest moderately and enjoy the flavor.

Fuller's London Pride: 9

Taste: 3 Finish: 2 Visual: 2 Aroma: 2
Total: 9

I was expecting something much better. True, it's a session beer so it shouldn't hit you over the head. But this is a beer that has the makings of a better brew. It tastes like they took a decent pale ale and then cut it with Bud. So under it there is a quick tease of flavor, and then it goes away never to return.

Pete's Wicked Ale: 14

Taste: 4 Finish: 4 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3
Total: 14

Way back in the day I remember this is one kickin' ale. 10 years of great craft beers have not been kind to Pete. This ale is way too sweet. Yes, it's a red that should have a good malt taste. But it's out of balance for today's market. No wonder it hardly has any shelf space anymore. They need to up the hops to help balance it all out. Otherwise it's a shade better than Killians.

Dogfish Stone Victory Saison du Buff: 21

Taste: 8 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 21

Dogfish Head, Stone, and Victory, my 3 most favorite breweries, come together to brew a saison, mu second favorite style of ale. The color is of straw. It's hazy throughout. The head fizzes out quickly. At first it's a bit creamy but then the bitterness of the hops come through in the middle of the tongue. That's quickly taken over by lemon, straw, and some earthy tones. I want to say apricot is hiding in the back. If not that, some sort of fruit. The finish stays a bit too bitter for a saison for my tastes. I would expect a cleaner ending. It makes it not quite refreshing. Surprisingly, it's 6.8% alcohol which I can taste none of. Perhaps the extra hopping is masking it. I like this, but there are better saisons out there.

Franziskaner Weissbier: 21

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total:

A very good pale and cloudy orange color with a big head. Little to no lacing. Aroma has lots of citrus and yeast. The taste starts crisp. Undertones of orange and lemon. The yeast kicks in the back giving it a bit of a chalky finish. The citrus lingers on the tongue for a while. Pretty good. I'd like it to be a bit cleaner in the finish. But a solid unfiltered wheat.

Spaten Optimator: 20

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 20

It's got a good, creamy head. Dark brown color. Very little aroma. Upfront there is a lot of sweet malt taste. Milk chocolate. Roasted flavors. The finish is a bit buttery and disappears quickly. Very easy to drink. Good flavors but a bit two dimensional.

Elysian Immortal IPA: 18

Taste: 6 Finish: 6 Visual: 3 Aroma: 2
Total: 18

The pale amber color does not inspire. The head is full but it's a bit too fizzy. The aroma is faint and bland. Luckily, the taste is pretty complex. Good bitterness throughout. Lots of pine/woody flavors. Undertones of honey. Although the hops linger, it finishes pretty cleanly for an IPA. It could use a bit of citrus to help jazz it up a bit more.

Guinness Foreign Export Stout: 26

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5
Total: 26

This is supposedly formulate to best match what's served in Ireland. It is highly hopped and very high in alcohol (7.5%) compared to Draught. The head is full and creamy. It has a lot of lacing. As expected, it's as black as night without a trace of color when held up to the light. The aroma has a good amount of caramel and roasted malt. There is a lot of creaminess throughout the draw. Bitterness and carbonation spike up around the edges. Under it all is definitely the alcohol. Towards the back and on the exhale are chocolate and coffee. Even though it's heavy, it's still very drinkable.

Very nice. Much much better than the widget cans. This actually tastes like something. Worthy of drinking.

Abita Jockamo IPA: 21

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 21

Good amber color with a full, creamy head. A bit of lacing. The aroma has some malt and a bit of pine. A hint of grapefruit. But nothing that really jumps out. The taste is mild and finishes cleanly. There is some pine and grapefruit in there. The bitterness of the hops jump in mid tongue. There is a mild sweetness towards the back. Very well balanced. Nothing really jumps out, but it has all the right components. A simple but good example of an IPA.

21st Amendment IPA: 21

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 21

Great huge head. Lots of lacing. Good cloudy amber color. The aroma has a bit of citrus, pine, and malt. It has a mildly bitter upfront taste which quickly falls away to a semi-sweet finish (for an IPA). It is very smooth throughout. Although it boasts a 70 IBU, it really is quite tame. Maybe a notch above Sam Adam's lager. Underneath it is a bit of orange juice and some grapefruit. It's a very drinkable IPA that won't wow you but it's good enough for most occasions when you don't want a hop bomb IPA.

Weyerbacher Tiny: 25

Taste: 8 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5
Total: 25

A Belgium style Imperial Stout. It is black as oil. No light will pass through it. The head is huge, creamy, and malty. It smells like smoke, deep roasted malt, and plums and cherries. First sip has a ton of flavor. The smokey malt hits immediately. The fruit hits next. Towards the back of the tongue is the bitterness of hops. Finally the alcohol kicks in (11.8%). The alcohol is very present but it smooths out the flavors, instead of pummeling the tongue. Interestingly, there is very little hints of chocolate or coffee. Maybe a hint of caramel.

This is a very heavy and serious stout. Given the alcohol you really have to sip it. It's a very good brew but I can't figure out why I'd want to drink it again.

Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale: 18

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 2 Aroma: 3
Total: 18

The aroma is very faint with a hint of cherries and malt. Visually it looks like a coke... But wow, first is it sour. I mean, I was expecting it, but it still hit me. Second sip is better. Bitter black cherries jam through with some sweetness underneath. A bit of vinegar as well. No real alcohol flavor and the bottle doesn't indicate strength. Worth a try, but not something I'd reach for again.